The 41st Meeting of the Board of Directors of the India–Sri Lanka Foundation (ISLF) was held in New Delhi on 28 August 2026, with the meeting co-chaired by the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India, Mahishini Colonne, and the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha.
The meeting brought together Board Members Ambassador Prasad Kariyawasam, Ambassador Mohan Kumar and Mr. Ashok Malik, with the Board reviewing the progress of ongoing projects and considering new proposals submitted to the Colombo Secretariat.
The scale of interest was reflected in more than 500 proposals received by the Colombo Secretariat. Following the vetting process, 137 proposals were shortlisted, with 20 subsequently placed before the Board for consideration. The Board approved 13 projects amounting to approximately LKR 21 million, covering education, culture, agriculture, and science and technology.
The Board also took note of a substantial increase in public interest in the Foundation’s work in both countries. The New Delhi Secretariat received 149 proposals from Indian nationals, despite no formal Call for Proposals having been issued before the meeting because of financial constraints.
According to the Board, the unprecedented level of interest from individuals and institutions in both countries reflects continuing public interest in strengthening the close and enduring relationship between India and Sri Lanka. It also points to demand for greater opportunities for people-to-people engagement between the two countries.
The India–Sri Lanka Foundation was established on 28 December 1998 through a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the then Foreign Ministers of India and Sri Lanka, Mr. Jaswant Singh and Mr. Lakshman Kadirgamar. The Foundation was established to foster India–Sri Lanka relations through enhanced economic, scientific, educational, technical and cultural cooperation, while promoting greater understanding between the peoples of the two countries.
Over the past 28 years, the Foundation has supported people-to-people contacts through exchanges and initiatives involving students, academics, researchers, professionals, artists and cultural practitioners. It has also supported projects across a range of fields of mutual interest, based on proposals submitted by institutions and individuals in both countries.
Against the backdrop of the growing breadth and depth of India–Sri Lanka relations, the Board observed that the Foundation’s role in strengthening people-to-people ties has assumed greater importance. The increasing number of proposals received by both Secretariats demonstrates the demand for such engagement and the potential for the Foundation to expand its activities.
The Board therefore noted the importance of strengthening the Foundation’s financial capacity. An enhanced Corpus Fund, it said, would enable the Foundation to respond to a greater number of worthwhile initiatives in both countries while creating greater opportunities for Sri Lankan institutions and individuals to participate in exchanges, collaboration and other people-to-people initiatives connected with India–Sri Lanka relations.
The 41st Board Meeting was held at Zetu, the first Sri Lankan food-inspired restaurant in New Delhi.
The Foundation is jointly administered by Secretariats in New Delhi and Colombo and governed by a six-member Board of Directors. The Board comprises the High Commissioners of Sri Lanka to India and India to Sri Lanka as ex-officio Co-Chairpersons, together with four members nominated by the two Governments.
